Newcastle United has filed an official complaint concerning the treatment of their supporters following a 2-1 loss to Marseille in the UEFA Champions League. The club has accused French police of excessive force, including the deployment of pepper spray, batons, and shields, to manage fans after the match at Stade Velodrome.

In their statement, Newcastle indicated their intent to formally communicate their concerns to UEFA, Olympique de Marseille, and French law enforcement regarding the treatment of their supporters. The statement noted, "We will be formally raising our concerns with UEFA, Olympique de Marseille and French police in relation to the unacceptable treatment of our supporters by police at Stade Velodrome following Tuesday's UEFA Champions League fixture."

Following the match, fans were retained within the stadium for approximately one hour as a precautionary measure. Subsequently, groups of 500 supporters were escorted to a metro station designated for fan transport. However, the situation escalated during this operation, which was monitored by Newcastle's stewards and senior staff.

The club's statement described the unfolding events: "Once the first group of supporters was released, the police began using unnecessary and disproportionate force to stop the remainder of our fans from moving any further. This was actioned through a combination of pepper spray, batons and shields, with numerous supporters being indiscriminately assaulted by the police." The statement also noted incidents of crushing in the upper concourse area of the away section, resulting in visible distress among fans.

Attempts by Newcastle's staff to engage with the police regarding the escalating situation were met with limited success. The statement highlighted that fans exiting the stadium expressed their distress and frustration to club staff, leading to concerning witness reports from attendees.

The club underscored the importance of prioritizing the safety and welfare of supporters, condemning the actions taken against their fans during this incident. Newcastle United plans to reach out to relevant authorities to initiate an investigation into the events, with the objective of ensuring that similar occurrences do not happen in the future. They have also encouraged supporters to report their experiences to assist in this inquiry.